32.7 KM-PNR RIGHT-OF-WAY READY FOR
TRAIN REHAB—VP NOLI
23 December 2005
VICE
President and concurrent Housing
and Urban Development Coordinating Council (HUDCC) chairman Noli
‘Kabayan’ De Castro formally announced yesterday that the Philippine National Railway (PNR)
right-of-way from Caloocan to Malolos, Bulacan is already free of
informal settler families and commercial establishments.
PAVING
WAY FOR MANILA-SUBIC-CLARK TRIANGLE. Vice
President and Concurrent HUDCC
chair Noli ‘Kabayan’ De Castro is
in high spirits as he leads the ceremonial turnover of the
Certificate of Completion of the clearing operations for the 32.70 Km
PNR right-of-way property in the Kaloocan City-Bulacan Segment (Phase
1) of the Northrail Project from NHA
GM Federico Laxa (left) to the
North Luzon Railway Corporation President Jose Cortez; Jr. (right)
held at the old PNR station in Malolos, Bulacan. (OVP photo by Egay
Montaña 12/23/05)
De Castro
made the announcement during the official turnover of the 32.7
kilometer-PNR right-of-way from
the National Housing Authority (NHA)
to the North Luzon Railway Corporation (NLRC) in Malolos, Bulacan.
“It has
indeed been a daunting task for us over the past 12 months.
Nonetheless, we are inspired by the success of the relocation program,” De Castro said.
De Castro
said the clearing operations for the Northrail Project involved the
resettlement of more or less 20,000 families in such a short time. Thus
far, it is the biggest urban renewal program in the country. “Despite
drawbacks along the way, we are truly proud of this undertaking,” he
said.
FREE
MEDICAL-DENTAL SERVICES FOR NORTHVILLE ‘VILLAGERS’. Vice
President and concurrent HUDCC
chair Noli ‘Kabayan’ De Castro
visits the medical – dental mission hosted by the Office of the
Vice President for Northrail relocatees at Brgy. Bangkal, Malolos,
Bulacan. (OVP photo by egay montaña)
The Vice
President lauded the NHA led by
its general manager Frederico Laxa for a job well done. He also thanked
the mayors of Kalookan, Valenzuela, Meycauayan, Marilao, Bocaue,
Guiguinto, Balagtas and Malolos and other supporters of the undertaking
such as the PNR, NLRC, the
Homeless Peoples’ Federation, other peoples’ organizations, the private
sector donors and, the diocese of Malolos, among others, that played
relevant roles to make the first phase of the clearing operations a big
success.
The
provision of shelter security to more than 20,000 poor families who
used to reside along the railways is another success, according to De
Castro. “Iyan pa lang ay napakalaking bagay na dahil sa maikling
panahon ay nagawa nating lutasin ang matagal nang problema sa pabahay
ng mga taga-northrail,” he said.
Yesterday’s
ceremony signaled the start of the train rehabilitation that shall pave
the way for the development of the Manila-Subic-Clark Triangle. De
Castro said that just like the rehabilitation process, his work to
ensure a new life for the relocates is just beginning.
“As I
have committed to the families, I will not stop until I am assured that
these families are provided with all the requirements and facilities
for a livable community,” “My work in building real communities is just
starting. I bank on your continuing support,” he said.
Ref.
VPMEDIA 05-200
Management Information Services
Division (MISD). All rights reserved.